The Reds were staring down the barrel of back-to-back defeats for the first time under Rodgers when Christian Benteke fired relegation-threatened Villa into a 1-0 lead at half-time.

But the response from Rodgers' men was emphatic; Jordan Henderson stylishly levelling two minutes after the break before Steven Gerrard sealed the points from the penalty spot.

An elated Rodgers told Sky Sports after the match: "Our character was outstanding today. I thought we played reasonably well in the first half but we made a mistake and were punished by a good finish from Benteke.

"I thought we created chances in the first half and second half we upped the tempo and going forward we were excellent. Defensively we were nice and solid so it was a terrific win for us. Paul's (Lambert) teams always go right to the end and it was tough for us.

"Our quality was there as was our drive and determination. I thought that tactically we adapted very well and overall I'm very, very pleased. After losing the previous game (against Southampton) you want to bounce back and we did that."

Rodgers reserved special praise for midfield duo Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson after the pair linked up clinically for Liverpool's equaliser.

He added: "The pass (from Coutinho) and the actual run from Henderson, his determination and desire to go and run forward was outstanding. A wonderful pass and fantastic finish. I'm really pleased for him and young Philippe has great, great quality."

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t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.